The United States Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation into the Trenton Police Department.

The department is looking at allegations of officers using excessive force, stopping people without justification and illegally searching homes and cars.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has done the same type of investigation in 10 other police departments since 2021.

"Building that confidence and trust is one of the key objectives of this investigation,” says Kristen Clarke, assistant U.S. attorney general in the Civil Rights Division. "Our pattern and practice investigations have fueled change and transformation in policing."

The investigation is expected to take about a year. If violations are uncovered, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will try to reach an agreement with the city on solutions. If an agreement can’t be reached, a civil lawsuit will be filed.